Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is a percutaneous procedure intended to provide a new treatment option for patients with severe aortic stenosis who are not candidates for open valve replacement surgery and previously had no other treatment options. Severe aortic stenosis is a life-threatening, progressive disease that affects approximately 360,000 individualspredominantly age 65 or olderin the U.S.

Based on its latest health technology assessment findings, ECRI Institute expects TAVI to remain in the spotlight as hospitals and health systems adopt and implement the technology and health plans address reimbursement issues.

Currently, the only FDA-approved indication for the procedure is inoperable severe aortic stenosis. However, the FDA is considering other clinical indications for the procedure, including high-risk operable patients. If approved, this could open the door for approximately 60,000 potential candidates for TAVI a year.

While only one valve has been approved for marketing in the U.S., another competing valve already approved in Europe could reach the U.S. market before 2014. The procedure also calls for paradigm shifts in staffing models and can require significant infrastructure investments for building a suitable hybrid operating room.

The interactive format of this web conference provides ample time to interact with the panel through polling and a Q&A session. The format also encourages team participation.

This program is intended for hospital administrators; health plan medical policy staff, including nurses and medical directors; value analysis and technology assessment committee members, including physicians and nurses; and cardiac clinical service personnel.

ECRI Institute is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians. ECRI Institute designates this live activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s). Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

This activity has been approved for 1.0 California State Nursing contact hours by the provider, Debora Simmons, who is approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider Number CEP 13677.

ECRI Institute will offer live updates from the event on Twitter at #EIConf.

To learn more, or to register for this web conference, visit the website or contact ECRI Institute by e-mail at circulation2@ecri.org; by telephone at (610) 825-6000, ext. 5889; by fax at (610) 834-0240; or by mail at 5200 Butler Pike, Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462-1298, USA.

About ECRI InstituteECRI Institute (www.ecri.org), a nonprofit organization, dedicates itself to bringing the discipline of applied scientific research to healthcare to discover which medical procedures, devices, drugs, and processes are best to enable improved patient care. As pioneers in this science for nearly 45 years, ECRI Institute marries experience and independence with the objectivity of evidence-based research. Strict conflict-of-interest guidelines ensure objectivity. ECRI Institute is designated an Evidence-based Practice Center by the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. ECRI Institute PSO is listed as a federally certified Patient Safety Organization by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Find ECRI Institute on Facebook (www.facebook.com/ECRIInstitute) and on Twitter (www.twitter.com/ECRI_Institute).